2 Girls Killed When Teen Driver Crashes SUV In Placer County

LOOMIS (CBS13) – Hugs, tears, and raw emotion were let out at Del Oro High School on Monday after one of their students was killed on Sunday night.

“I really didn’t know how to react,” said Sarah Thoftne, a Del Oro High student. “The reaction of just knowing someone your age died, especially before the parents, is just really hard to take.”

Six teenagers were in the car that crashed on Auburn Folsom road near Newcastle north of Less Lane at around 7:30 p.m.

Morgan Helman, 17, of Carmichael and Vivian Conner, 13, of Newcastle were killed, according to the CHP. Officers believe the driver, a 17-year-old boy driving on a provisional license, may have over-corrected, causing the SUV to roll. Investigators believe the two girls who died were not wearing seat belts.

Helman was a junior at Del Oro High.

“This is a shock to our students and to the community,” said Dan Gayaldo, Del Oro High principal.

Counselors were on campus Monday helping students come to grips with what happened.

Sean Connor said he will cherish a photo of the three of them forever.

“That’s me, Morgan, Amber and Vivan,” he said.

The snapshot of his 13-year-old cousin Vivian and his close friend Morgan was taken just days before the crash that killed them. He says the photo captures their personalities.

“Bubbly, always smiling, never a dull time,” he said.

Word of the accident struck students hard Monday. Tears and hugs filled the high school.

“She was pretty nice, I mean she never said anything bad about anyone. Just a great person,” Drew Lamora said of her biology classmate.

“It was just kind of like down and people were just depressed, even if they didn’t know her. It just seems everyone was affected by it,” said Shani Remme, a sophomore at Del Oro.

Sean came back to the site of the crash Monday to say goodbye.

“I wanted to see what happened,” he said. “I love those girls so much. I can’t imagine them suffering.”

The family of Morgan Helman is holding a celebration of life service at Bay Side Church at 1:30 next Monday.

Some students say they’re already learning from the tragedy.

“It made me drive very carefully this morning,” said Thoftne. “I checked my speed a lot and I just was really more cautious than I had been.”

Sean Bennett joined CBS13 and Good Day Sacramento in May 2012. Sean is no stranger to reporting on the morning show. He spent the past 3.5 years reporting for FOX 40. Before moving to the Capital City, Sean spent seven years anchoring sports at WBBH...